Bag sorting apparatus



1811- 4, 1944- s. BLEICHFELD BAG SORTING APPARATUS s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1942 I '46 mINVENTOR A TTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1944. A s. BILEICHFELD v 2,333,088

BAG SORTING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5'. BLEICHFELD BAG SORTING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'TOR KTTORNEYS Jan; 4, 1944.

Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITE D STATES ATE NT BAG SORTING APPARATUS} Sol Bieichfeld, Bufialfo, N1 ,Y'.

Application April 8, 1942, Serial No. 438,105

(Cl. 209-82;)l-

12 Claims.

This invention relates tov apparatus-for sorting bags and more particularly to such apparatus for sorting used cloth bags of different sizes, such used cloth bags being cleaned and now' being sorted by hand, this involving, of course, a great deal of labor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide such a bag sorting apparatus which automatically sorts and drops the bags intodifferent bins in accordance with the various sizes of the bags across their mouths, this eliminating all manual labor with the exceptionof the'necessity of an operator to feed the bags to the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus which will sort the bags of dif:- ferent sizes with great accuracy and properly'deposit'the bags in the different bins.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus which can be adapted to any number of sizes, the apparatus shown being designed for seven difierent sizes of bags.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the manual operation of feeding the bags to the apparatus is accomplished with the minimum amount of effort and with the greatest. degree of convenience to the operator, and in which the handling of the bags is reduced to the maximum amount so that the work of handling the used bags is made agreeable and convenient.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus in which the bags are caused to straighten out before being dumped into the various bins thereby to insure their being neatly and uniformly deposited in the bins from which they can be conveniently removed and packaged with a minimum amount of efiort.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which is light in weight and.can be conveniently suspended from the ceiling, thereby to avoid the necessity of a heavy framework for supporting the apparatus. I

Other objects are to provide such apparatus which is simple in construction and which will stand up under conditions of severe and constant use without getting out of order or requiring repairs.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cloth bag sorting apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the supporting hanger rods being shown in section, and some of the cross tubes being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view, viewed fromthe feeding end of the apparatus and looking upwardlyparallel with the-feeding stretch of the conveyer' on which the bags are. hung.

Fig. 4: is an: enlarged fragmentary plan view ofone of the two chains which forma part of the conveyerior-the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the chain shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on line66,-Fig. 2.

- Fig. '7 is anenlarged-transverse section, taken on line 'l--1, Fig. 1.

Fig. '8- is a further enlarged section, taken on line 8-3, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line 9-9, Fig. 1.

Used cloth bags, such as the burlap bags l0 shown in the accompanying drawings, must'be sorted accurately as to their sizes across their mouths or opened ends so as to enable them to be refilled with automatic filling machines. Thus,

if an oversized bagisfitted to the neck of a-filling machine, it is improperly held and liable to drop, this resulting, of course, in a large quantityof the material being spilled on the floor.

Conversely, the effort requiredinattemptingto fit 'anoversized bagtothe filling spout of an auto.- 'matic filling machine're-presents a waste'of labor and a loss of time. The apparatus forming the subject ofthe present invention; isp-rimarily designed to sort used cloth bags in accordance: with their mouth or transverse sizes, the apparatus automatically dumping the bags in their proper bins from which they can be conveniently removed and bailed or otherwise packaged and-the user of the bags being assured that each bag is of the same size and that it willproperly litthe -spout of his filling machine.

The sorting apparatus is shown as suspended from the ceiling H of the plant by means of hanger rods 52, these hanger rods supporting angles which-are suitably secured to side plates [3, l4' and I5 which form :a part of the frameof the apparatus. These three plates l3, l4 and. I5 are provided on opposite sides of the apparatus and on each side are connected by a pair of up.- per side channel. bars 20 which extend the full rails for the corresponding stretch of the conveyer H. A pair of side angle irons 25 extends downwardly from the side plates 13 at the forward of feeding end of the apparatus and each is connected at its lower end to a side plate 26. These angle irons have their flanges extending inwardly in opposed relation to each other, as best shown in Fig. 7, and form the side rails for the conveyer 2! along the feeding stretch of the same. Each side plate 25 is connected with the companion side plate Id b a side angle iron or rail 21, these rails supporting the conveyer 2! along the corresponding stretch of the conveyer. It will be noted that the side rail 21 incline at a slight angle from the vertical and that the side rails 25 which support the feeding stretch of the conveyer 2| are arranged at a substantial inclination of about 45. The conveyer 2! moves in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1 and it will therefore be seen that the upper stretch of this conveyer travels forwardly along the upper pair of side rails 25; downwardly and rearwardly along the side rails 25 at the feeding stretch or station of the machine; upwardly and slightly rearwardly along the side rails 21; and rearwardly and horizontally along the side rails 22 at the discharging or sorting station of the apparatus.

The frame of the apparatus composed of the various rails and side plates as above described is completed by cross members of any suitable form, these cross members being shown as comprising tubes 29 welded to and cross connecting each set of side plates it, it, I and 25, respectively.

The horizontal drive shaft 35 of the machine is journaled in bearings 3! which are secured to the side plates l5 of the frame and this drive shaft 35 is shown as driven by means of a pulley 32 and belt 33. A drive sprocket 35 is secured to each end of the drive shaft 35, these sprockets being arranged between the side rails and 22 at each side of the apparatus, as best shown in Fig. 6. Each of these drive sprockets drives .a detachable link chain 35 which is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, these chains forming a part of the conveyer ill. The detachable link chain is shown as comprising square links 31 each having a hook shaped forward end 35 which detachably hooks around the rear cross bar 39 of the next preceding link 57, the links 51 being joined to provide the pair of endless chains 35 passing around and driven by the pair of drive sprockets 35.

At the forward end of the machine each of these chains pass around an idler sprocket to, these idler sprockets 45 being suitably secured to an idler shaft l-i mounted in bearings 42 carried by each of the side plates 13. The bearings d2 are preferably rendered adjustable by means of adjusting screws 43 so that the tension of the two chains 35 can easily be adjusted by turning the screws 63 and moving the idler shaft H together with its idler sprockets 42 to take up the necessary amount of slack in the chains.

Each of the side plates 25 carries a bearing 45 inwhich an idler shaft 45 is journaled, this shaft angle bars 55 which extend across the apparatus at the forward edges of the side plates [4 and form additional cross members of the frame. Each of the pair of bearings 48 carries an idler stub shaft 5| which in turn carries a sprocket 52, the chains 36 passing around these side sprockets. The shafts 5| are in the form of stub shafts, in contradistinction to the cross shafts 35, ll and 45 for the other pairs of sprockets as above described so as to leave an unobstructed space for the passage of the bags it therebetween in a free hanging position as hereinafter described.

At spaced intervals the links Isl of each of the chains 35 is formed to provide an inwardly extending pin 55 which can be formed integrally with the link, the pins 55 of the two chains 35 registering with one another. Each pair of the pins 55 of the two chains supports a cross rod or tube 55 which, as best shown in Fig. 8, is fitted around its pins 55 and fastened by means of a bolt or cross pin 5'! or in any other suitable manner, the cross rods or tubes 5! thereby being prevented from rotating. The left hand end of each cross rod or tube 55, as viewed from the front of the machine, carries a fixed finger 58, these fingers being arranged to project outward- 1y from the conveyer and hence extending upwardly when traversing the upper stretch of the conveyer and downwardly when traversing the lower stretch of the conveyer.

The opposite end of each cross rod 55 supports a sliding sleeve 59 which carries a pin Gil, the stem SI of this pin extending through a pair of slots 52 provided in the cross rod or tube 55. The slots 52 extend longitudinally of each cross rod or tube 55 and are arranged in opposed relation so that each pin projects outwardly in the same direction as its companion fixed pin 58. Since each sleeve 59' is free to slide along its cross rod or tube 55, the fingers are movable toward and from the fixed fingers or pins 58 but are prevented from turning around the cross rod or tube 55. Each sleeve 59 is yieldingly held against its supporting link 31 of the right hand chain 55, as viewed from the front of the machine, by a helical compression spring which surrounds each cross rod or tube 56 and is interposed between the fixed finger 58 and the end of the movable sleeve 59.

To the right hand rail 25, as viewed from the front of the machine, is suitably secured a cam bar Hi, this cam bar extending toward the opposite or left hand rail 25 and being arranged in the path of rollers ll provided at the base of each of the movable fingers 6B. The cam bar 15 is formed with a long leg 12 which engages the rollers H and gradually moves the passing fingers 65 toward their companion fixed fingers 58 as the conveyer traverses this part of the apparatus. After traveling over the high part of the cam bar 10, the rollers engage a short leg of this cam bar, this short leg being arranged to permit each movable finger 58 to rapidly return to the right,

as viewed from the front of the apparatus, and

away from its fixed finger. It is during this rapid movement of each movable finger 50 away from its companion fixed finger 53 that the operator catches the mouth of the bag 15 between the fin.- gers, these bags having been placed in a pile on an inclined table or rack '15 with their open ends or mouths at the upper end of the pile.

A discharging cam bar 36 is secured at its front end to the right hand rail 22, as viewed from the front of the machine. The cam bar so is arranged in the path of the rollers ll ofthe mov able; fin rs; 6,0 andzislformed. toi proyide. a successionof even y. paced salient. faces: 82 and lands 83;: the salientfaces 82 andgla-nds 83being inalernate relation. to oneanother. Under each of ther a nt. faces: 8.22- and its, succeeding land. 83. isparrang d abin 84:; These bins 84 can. be of any, suitable construction, but are preferably such asto permitthe ready removal of thepile of bags lllwhich are deposited therein, Therearend of the; cam bar 89,. curves aroundthe rear end of the. apparatus to form. a continuation of the lasl'i' land, 8,3 and terminates: in a return leg. or cam. part 8|, secured to the corresponding.- rail 2!]; Thermovable. fingers Giireturn to theirfully extended position by riding. outwardiyalong. this return; leg 8],.

Toprevent upward movement: Of the conveyor chains. 36 while. traversingath'e. cam bar 10,. each of the rails 25 is provided'along theinner'side of itsvertical flange with a, small angle iron 85, the links-of thetwo chains 36: passing through the channel 86 formed between the opposing fianges of the rails Ziiand these angle irons 85 and hence being held against lateral displacement while traversingthe rails 25.

In the operationof the=apparatus the rotation of the drive shaft 33 by its drive pulley 32 effects a'rotationof its drive sprockets 35 which mesh with the links 31' of the two drive chains 36. Each of these drive'chains is thereby driven forwardly along the horizintal fiange ofits upper guide rail 20; around the idler sprocket as at the forward end of the machine; downwardly in the channel We formed between its railZii and angle iron 85; around its idler sprocket ill; up its rail 21; around its sprocket 52; rearwardly along the lower flange of its rail 22'and back around its drive sprocket 35. At spaced intervals the companion links of the two chains 36 carry the cross rods or tubes 55,,each of which in turn carries the fixed finger 58 at its left hand, end and the movable finger at its right hand end, as viewed from the front of the machine. When the chains traverse the cam bar H1 at, the front of the machine, the rollers H of the fixed fingers successively engage the rising part 12 of this cam bar and hence each movable finger 6d and its supporting sliding sleeve 59 is moved toward its fixed finger 58 against the resistance of its return spring 65. When the rollers H pass over the high part of the cam bar 10, and engage the short arm '53 of this cam bar each movable finger Kid is permitted to return to its original position, the finger being moved away from, its companion fixed finger 58 by. the return spring 65.

At this stage of the operation of the apparatus the operator seizes the open upper end of the top bag I0 supported onthe table 15, catches one end of the mouthaf this bag over the passing fixed finger 58-and places'the other end of the mouth of the bag in position-to be caught by the movable finger Boas it is being moved away from its fixed finger by its spring 65 while traversing the short leg 13 of thecam bar H1. Whenthismovable finger 60 has distended the mouth of the bag to its full extent, the bag is, of course, held between them movable finger and the companion fixed finger and hence is stripped from the pile of bags on the table and is carried upwardly while the two chains 36, traverse the side rails 27. While so traversing this part of the apparatus, the bags l0 hang freely from their supporting fingers and sincethe sprocketsiiz arenot connected by a cross shaft, these bags continue to hang freely: as the chains traverse the 'rails 2210f theframe;

In traversing theserailsZZof the main frame; the bags are brought into the zone of operation. of the cam bar 88. If the ba Iii has the maximum size at its mouth or open end, the movable fiuger 5i) supporting it is arranged so that. its roller 'Hengages the first alient face 82 and land 83 of the cam bar as; Therefore with such bagof maximum size at its mouth, the movement of its movable finger fiiltoward its fixed finger Why the very first salient face 82 of the car bar causes such large mouthed bag who released and to drop into thefirst bin 8%. On the other hand, if the bag is of minimum size :across'its mouth or open end, it is carriedalong the cam bar SB until the roller H of its movablefinger 60 engages the very last salient face '82- and land 83 of the cam bar 85. This last salient face 32' effects an inward movement of the-movable finger 50 so that this bag of minimim sizeacross' its openend is deposited in the very last bin 8d; It'will be seen that bags of intermediate size across their mouths or open ends will be dropped intocorre sponding intermediate bins es in accordance with theparticular salient face 32 which isengaged; the particular salient face 82 engaged being .determined by the original position of the movable finger as which is in turn determined by the particular length, across the open end'or mouth, of the bag being carried. 7

It will therefore be seen that with the apparatus the bags are accurately sorted as to their size across their open ends or mouths and that the bags deposited in any one bin are all of the same size. The bags removed from any one bin can therefore be sold to a customer with full assurance that the bags will fit the particular filling machinery.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a sorting apparatus for cloth bags which accurately sorts the bags in accordance with the dimension of each bag at its open end and does so with a minimum amount of manual handling of the bags, the operator being merely required to present the mouth of each bag to the pair of expanding finger 0f the conveyer as the conveyor traverses the short leg 73 of the cam bar it. It will further be seen that the apparatus is light in weight and can be readily suspended from the ceiling and that it is of sturdy construction and will stand up under continuous. service without getting out of order or requiring frequent repairs.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a oonveyer successively traversing a bag receiving and a bag discharging-station, a pair of fingers mounted on said conveyer for movement toward and from each other andadapted to engage the open ends of said bags placed therearound, means for yieldingly holding said fingers widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each oth r and to positionsaid fingers from eachother a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality ofreceivers at said discharging station and successively WEN ersed by said conveyer, means at the first of said receivers to move said fingers together when: widely spaced'from each other. to release bags; of, large. side across. their openendsinto said first:

receiver, and means at a subsequent receiver to move said fingers together when more closely spaced from each other to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

2. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a conveyer successively traversing a bag receiving and a bag discharging station, a, pair of downwardly extending substantially straight fingers mounted on said conveyer for movement toward and from each other and adapted to engage the open ends of said bags placed therearound, means for yieldingly holding said fingers widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position said fingers from each other a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of receivers at said discharging station and successively traversed by said conveyer, means at the first of said receivers to move said fingers together when widely spaced from each other to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver, and means at a subsequent receiver to move said fingers together when more closely spaced from each other to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

3. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a conveyer successively traversing a bag receiving and a bag discharging station, a pair of downwardly extending fingers mounted on said conveyer for movement toward and from each other and adapted to engage the open ends of said bags placed therearound, means for yieldingly holding said fingers widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position said fingers from each other a distance determined by the siz of the open end of said bag, means at said receiving station for moving said fingers toward and from each other to facilitate the application of a bag thereto, a, plurality of receivers at said discharging station and successively traversed by said conveyer, means at the first of said receivers to move said fingers togetherwhen widely spaced from each other to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver, and means at a subsequent receiver to move said fingers together when more closely spaced from each other to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

4, Apparatus for sorting full size mounted empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a conveyer successively traversing a bag receiving and a bag discharging station, a pair of downwardly extending substantially straight fingers mounted on said conveyer for movement toward and from each other and adapted to engage the open ends of said bags placed therearound, means for yieldingly holding said fingers widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position said fingers from each other a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of receivers at said discharging station and successively traversed by said conveyer, a stationary cam at the first of said receivers engaging one of said fingers when widely spaced from the other finger and moving said fingers together when so widely spaced from each other to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver, and a stationary cam at a subsequent receiver engaging one of said fingers when more closely spaced from the other finger and moving said fingers together when more closely spaced from each other to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

5. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising an endless conveyer successively traversing a bag receiving and a bag discharging station, a plurality of narrow fingers arranged in spaced relation along one side of said conveyer, a plurality of narrow movable fingers arranged in spaced relation along the opposite side of said conveyer and each opposite a companion finger of said first fingers to form a plurality of pairs of narrow fingers on said conveyer adapted to engage the open ends of said bags placed therearound, means for guiding each of said movable fingers for movement toward and from its companion finger. means for yieldingly holding said fingers of each pair widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position the fingers of each pair from each other a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of receivers at said discharging station and successively traversed by said conveyer, means at the first of said receivers to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when widely spaced therefrom to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver, and means at a subsequent receiver to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when closely spaced therefrom to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

6. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a flexible endless conveyer mounted to rotate about horizontal axes to provide upper and lower stretches and having its lower stretch traversing a bag discharging station, a plurality of outwardly extending narrow fingers arranged I in spaced relation along one side of said conveyer,

a plurality of narrow movable fingers arranged in spaced relation along the opposite side of said conveyer and each opposite a companion finger of said first fingers to form a plurality of pairs of narrow fingers on said conveyer adapted to engage the open ends of said bags placed therearound, means for guiding each of said movable fingers toward and from its companion finger, means for yieldingly holding said fingers of each pair widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position the fingers of each pair from each other a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of receivers at said discharging station under said lower stretch of said conveyer and successively traversed thereby, means at the first of said receivers to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when widely spaced therefrom to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver, and means at a subsequent receiver to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when closely spaced therefrom to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

7. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open enda comprising a flexible endless conveyer, means for supporting said conveyer to traverse a noncircular' path and to provide a downwardlymoving stretch at'one end traversing a receiving station and leading to a horizontally-movable lower stretch traversing a bag discharging station a plurality of outwardly extending narrow fingers arranged in spaced relation along one side of said conveyer, a plurality 'of'narrow movable fingers arranged in spaced relation alongthe opposite sideof said conveyer and ea'chopposi-te a companion finger of said first'fingers to form a plurality of pairs of'narrow fingers o-n-said conveyer adapted to engage the open-ends o'f 'said bags placed therearound, means for guiding each of said movable fingers toward and-from its comipanion fingen means for 'yieldin'gly holding said fingers of each pair'widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bagin a's'tretched ceivers to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when widely spaced therefrom to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver and means at a subsequent receiver to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when closely spaced therefrom to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

8. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a flexible endless conveyer, means for supporting said conveyer to traverse a noncircular path and to provide a downwardly and rearwardly moving stretch at its forward end traversing a received station and leading to a horizontally movable lower stretch traversing a bag discharging station, a plurality of outwardly extending narrow fingers arranged in spaced relation along one side of said conveyer, a plurality of narrow movable fingers arranged in spaced relation along the opposite side of said conveyer and each opposite a companion finger of said first fingers to form a plurality of pairs of narrow fingers on said conveyer adapted to engage the open ends of said bags placed therearound, means for guiding each of said movable fingers toward and from its companion finger, means for yieldingly holding said fingers of each pair widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position the fingers of each pair from each other a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of receivers at said discharging station under said lower stretch of said conveyor and. successively traversed thereby, means at the first of said receivers to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when widely spaced therefrom to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver and means at a subsequent receiver to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when closely spaced therefrom to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

9. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comporting said conveyer to traverse a noncircular path and to provide a downwardly and rearwardly moving stretch at its forward end traversing a receiving station and leading to an upwardly and rearwardly moving stretch in turn leading to a horizontally movable lower stretch traversing a bag discharging station, a plurality of outwardly extendingd narrow fingers arranged. in

spaced relation along one side of said conveyer, 'a plurality of narrow movable fingers arranged in spaced relation along the opposite side of said conveys-2r and each opposite a companion finger of said first fingers to form a plurality of pairs of narrow fingers on said conveyer adapted to engage the open ends of said bags placed therearound, means for guiding each of said'movable fingers toward and from its companion finger, mea'nsfor vyieldingly holding said 'fingers of each pair widely separated from-each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to'position the fingers of each pair from each other a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of'receiv'ers at said discharging station under said lower stretch of said conveyer and successively traversed thereby, means at the first of said receivers "to'i'nove'each passing movable "finger toward its companion finger when widely spaced therefrom to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver and means at a subsequent receiver to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when closely spaced therefrom to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent re- I ceiver.

10. Apparatus for sorting 'full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a pair of parallel spaced chains, means for supporting said chains to traverse a noncircular path and to traverse a bag discharging station, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains at spaced intervals, a narrow finger fixed to one end of each of said cross rods adjacent one of said chains, a narrow movable finger mounted for sliding movement on each of said cross rods adjacent the, other chain, means for yieldingly holding said fingers on each cross rod widely separated from each other to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position the fingers on each cross rod a distance determined by the; size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of receivers at said discharging station under said chains and succes sively traversed thereby, means at the first of said receivers to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when widely spaced therefrom to'release bags'of large size across their open ends into said first receiver, and means at a subsequent receiver to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when'closely spaced therefrom to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver. I

11. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a pair of parallel spaced chains, means for supporting said chains to traverse a noncircular path and to traverse a bag discharging station, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains at spaced intervals, a narrow finger fixed to one end of each of said cross rods adjacent one of said chains, a narrow movable'finger prisin'g a-fiexible endless conveyenmeans for supmounted for sliding movement on each of said cross rods adjacent the other chain, a helical compressoin spring surrounding each rod and interposed between the fingers mounted thereon to hold the fingers on each cross rod widely separated from each other and to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position the fingers on each cross rod a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of receivers at said discharging station under said chains and successively traversed thereby, stationary cam means at the first of said receivers to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when widely spaced therefrom to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver, and stationary cam means at a subsequent receiver to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when closely spaced therefrom to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

12. Apparatus for sorting full size mouthed empty bags as to size across their open ends, comprising a pair of parallel spaced chains, means for supporting said chains to traverse a noncircular path and to traverse a bag discharging station, a plurality of tubes connecting said chains at spaced intervals, a narrow finger fixed to one'end of each of said tubes adjacent one of said chains, the opposite end of each of said tubes being longitudinally slotted on its opposite sides, a sleeve slidingly mounted on said slotted end of each of said tubes, a narrow movable finger fast to said sleeve and having a stem projecting through said slots, a helical compression spring surrounding each of said tubes and interposed between its fixed finger and its movable sleeve to hold the fingers on each cross rod widely separated from each other and to hold the open end of a bag in a stretched condition with the sides of the bag parallel with each other and to position the fingers on each cross rod a distance determined by the size of the open end of said bag, a plurality of receivers at said discharging station under said chains and successively traversed thereby, means at the first of said receivers to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when widely spaced therefrom to release bags of large size across their open ends into said first receiver, and means at a sub sequent receiver to move each passing movable finger toward its companion finger when closely spaced therefrom to release bags of smaller size across their open ends into said subsequent receiver.

SOL BLEICHFELD. 

